6 Worst Home Upgrades For Your Money : #2

Backup Power Generator

You see a backup generator and imagine all of the comforts no matter what the weather. But potential buyers hailing from outside your local area may not share that vision. (And a handful of those who do might have watched too many zombie movies.) On average, when homeowners have a heavy-duty backup power generator installed, they spend about $14,718, according to the report. Going with a slightly less expensive model or having a less complicated installation could cut the costs significantly, Alfano says.

Average amount of the price recovered at resale time: 48.5 percent.